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Startup Confidential

Startup Confidential

Hosted by Dr. James F. Richardson

Episodes

167

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN

About the show

Who is it For? Founders of CPG start-ups. What is It? Zero B.S. perspective on running your start-up well, understanding the biases of industry stakeholders and getting the industry to work for you, not the other way around. When? Every month. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com If you want to take my founder's Quiz to see if you are ready for exponential growth, please visit : www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com/founder_resources and sign up for my e-mail list to download it. Transcripts and an entire episode library are on my podcast site. https://www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com/podcast

Listen to episodes

60 recent
June 15, 2026Episode 1682 min

Episode 168 - Why Startups Are like Flowers In the Desert...

Send us Fan MailA humorous exploration of my favorite analogy for the experience of growing a consumer brand, whether or not you make it onto the Skate Ramp. It's harsh out there. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.comPlease send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com

June 1, 2026Episode 1673 min

Ep 167 - Forget the ‘A’ Players; How to Build a Better Team

Send us Fan MailConsider the unconventional org move as a scrappy founder. This episode briefly explains the mistake many high-growth founders make once they can hire a recruiting firm. Private equity has twisted much of the hiring ecosystem to suit itself, not you. Have a listen and LMK if you agree in the comments!Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.comPlease send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com

May 15, 2026Episode 16614 min

Ep. 166 - Filter Advice Like a Boss - Interview w/Michelle Razavi Pt. 2

Send us Fan MailThis episode is part 2 of my interview with Michelle Razavi of Elavi protein brownies, where we delve deeper into the psychology of consumers who love her products AND the psychology of highly successful founders. The most important point she makes is the power of effective storytelling about your business to all manner of stakeholders, including the end consumer. Check out Michelle's brand -  www.elavi.coYour Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.comPlease send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com

May 1, 2026Episode 16517 min

Ep. 165 - Rising Stars Series - Michelle Razavi of Elavi - Pt. 1

Send us Fan MailElavi is the second brand in my Rising Stars Series. Michelle Razavi, Founder and CEO of Elavi Protein Brownies, joins for this two-part series. She tells the story of how she repeatedly adjusted their product mix to make their mission of clean, allergen-free protein take off. She had to kill off the original product line to keep focused on what was growing, which is never easy for new founders. In this episode, Michelle also makes a compelling case for a fitness background as a CPG founder. Can you guess why? Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.comPlease send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com

April 15, 2026Episode 1649 min

Episode 164 - The Seven Traits of Skate Ramp Founders

Send us Fan MailIn the final chapter of Ramping Your Brand, I walk readers through the crucial transformation every new founder must go through - Operator to Strategist to Leader. In some cases, this has happened in a matter of years, or the culture will probably break, bogging everyone down in slow or chaotic decisions. This episode explains the personal traits founders need to cultivate in order to accomplish this transition.Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.comPlease send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com

April 1, 2026Episode 16310 min

Episode 163 - The Benchmark of Benchmarks

Send us Fan MailThe most efficient Skate Ramp brands earn large amounts of money in small geographies. In this episode I explain how to measure this and why it’s so important to set such a high standard for an undercapitalized business early on. You have to listen to learn the benchmark. This is contained in my book, deliberately. Sort of. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.comPlease send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com

March 15, 2026Episode 16212 min

Episode 162 - The Staircase Trap - A Growth ‘Curve’ No One Wants

Send us Fan MailIf your brand does not Ride the Ramp, it most likely attained nine-figure scale by stair-stepping its way upwards. Distribution gains with sustained, not growing velocity. In this episode, I explore what causes this and why you should get off the staircase as soon as possible if you want to sustain growth.Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.comPlease send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com

March 1, 2026Episode 16112 min

Episode 161 - The Forgotten Variable That Destroys Marketing Efficiency

Send us Fan MailMarketers obsess with platform metrics, because these are the numbers they can tactically control the most. However, buried in every CPG product’s design are hidden sensory variables that work with or work against the efficiency of marketing. Let me explain in this episode.Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.comPlease send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com

February 15, 2026Episode 16016 min

Episode 160 - Tired of Protein Everything? Fiber is Next!

Send us Fan MailMegatrends are ones that grow for decades in a steady linear fashion regardless of hype cycles that occur within that time span. They often start decades before the industry leaders pile on. In this episode, I call the not-surprising next trend, the one that has been building for decades quietly as Americans become more educated about the hidden problem in the traditional foodways of most Americans of European, African, and Latin descent. And Gen Z is leading the charge. Have a listen and see if you agree!Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.comPlease send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com

February 1, 2026Episode 15913 min

Episode 159 -YoY Growth is Slowing? — Do This!

Send us Fan MailThe survival rate of brands at $1 is brutal enough. And at $10M, even more hit a wall or die. But the real problem that survivors face as they scale into eigth figures is stagnation. The grand delusion is that adding more and more retail accounts will keep the brand growing. But this is an illusion whose fragility exposes itself once deceleration begins and doesn’t reverse with new accounts. Growing past $100M and deep into the nine figures is NOT a sales game. It is a marketer’s game. But most brands need to change one thing. Have a listen and take notes. This is not material in my book.Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.comPlease send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com

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